//------------------------------//
// Chapter I 
// Story: The Royal Guard 
// by Jacob562 
//------------------------------//

	Thunder Clop sat nervously across the on one side of the large oak desk. Commandant Spatz read carefully through the files before silently setting them on the desk. He looked right at Thunder Clop dead in his eyes, without moving. Suddenly he broke the silence "Outstanding!" he said enthusiastically, and Thunder Clop felt as though a huge weight had been lifted off him. "One of the finest records I've ever seen." Continued Spatz. "Your request to serve with the Royal Guard has been accepted Cadet Clop. It is my pleasure to award you your new orders." Spatz reached into a drawer and pulled out a small scroll. The dark grey pegasus took the orders and began reading as they were presented to him, but Spatz recited from memory the orders (after all he did this every year, and the Guard position orders were always the same.) "Congratulations! You have been selected from among your peers for the great honor of serving in the palace with the Royal Guard! You have been selected for outstanding devotion to duty, intelligence and courage. Report to Shining Armor, captain of the Guard, at the palace this afternoon for posting."

Commandant Spatz stood up from and reached his hoof across the desk Thunder Clop quickly stood and shock hoofs with the old soldier. "We're losing one of our best you know," he sighed, "You would have been an exemplary field officer cad... Lieutenant Clop."

"Thank you sir," Replied Thunder Clop "I will never forget my years at the academy! It has been an honor learning from you sir!"

"Ha!" Chuckled Spatz, "The honor is ours, I can assure you. Dismissed!" And as Thunder Clop had just about reached the door Spatz yelled out "and Congratulations once more!"

It took all of Thunder Clops will not to gallop through the halls jumping up and down with joy. He had dreamed of serving on with the royal guard ever since he was a colt and now he'd finally achieved his goal. His parents would be so proud, at least one male from their family graduated from the academy every generation, but Thunder was the first to be accepted for guard duty since his great great grandfather, who had been knighted for bravery. 

It took Thunder Clop only moments to pack up his meager belongings, and after saying farewell to his fellow class mates he was off to the palace. There was no formal graduation ceremony for Thunder Clop, he graduated a full semester early, but he would return in the spring and partake in the ceremony with the rest of the cadets. It was cold outside the academy and snow blew lightly around the Canterlot streets. Luckily the academy was located only a short trot from the palace and Thunder Clop made it there in only a few short moments. 

"Halt!" Stated one of the guards at the gate. "What business do you have at the palace today.... cadet?"

Thunder Clop just realized he was still in his academy uniform, in all the excitement he must have forgotten to change.

"Ca... er, Lieutenant Thunder Clop reporting for duty sir!" He said rather hesitantly as he presented his orders. The white pony judiciously looked over the orders before finally speaking "well congratulations lieutenant!" he said excitedly. "Follow me and I'll take you to the captain."

Thunder Clop followed the guard through the grounds and up into the palace. It was even more magnificent on the inside than he had imagined, Ornate rugs, beautiful stained glass windows, paintings and sculptures from far off lands and all manner of nobleponies, maids, and butlers going about their business. The white guard pony led Thunder clop down a nearby passage way to a tower. They climbed the stairs several stories, passing both the night and day guards barracks and the armory until finally at the top of the tower they came to the offices. Thunder Clop waited as the guardpony knocked on the large doors. The waited briefly before an "Enter" followed from inside and pushed open the door and marched inside.

Thunder Clop stood at attention and kept his eyes forward. Even without moving though he was able to see most of the office. It was massive, book shelves lined the east and west walls, with suits of armor between the gaps in the shelves. There were two small couches in the middle of the room with a small coffee table between them, (currently covered in maps) At the north end was a large desk, larger even than the commandants at the academy. Behind the desk was a great window and from it Thunder Clop could make of the other towers and spires of the palace, the two tallest, he assumed, would be the princesses towers. Shining Armor sat behind the desk patiently studying their newest guard

"May I present Lieutenant Thunder Clop!" Said the guard pony stepping forward. "Thank you" said Shining Armor, "you are dismissed" The guardpony saluted and left Thunder Clop alone with the captain. When the door had closed Shining Armor stood and walked over to Thunder Clop "Its a pleasure to finally meet you Lieutenant! Your application was truly exceptional!" "Thank you, sir." said Thunder Clop rigidly. "Come Lieutenant, I'll show you your quarters and give you a tour of the palace, don't feel bad if you get a little lost your first few days though, its a big place."

And with that they were off, Shining Armor first took Thunder Clop to his room, located just floor below the armory, since he was a junior officer he had to share the room with another pony, but he seemed nice enough. Next they toured the wall and grounds of the palace, Shining Armor explaining their defensive lines and certain protocols that had to be followed. Around mid afternoon they then entered the palace proper and Thunder Clop was introduced to various minor nobles, and the wait staff. Finally Shining Armor pulled him aside. "Are you ready to meet the princess?" He asked. The Princess, ohh my what will I do, I'm not ready to meet a princess Thought Thunder Clop What will I say if she talks to me, what if she doesn't talk to me at all... AHHH! I'm still in my cadet uniform, she will think me a total fool! Shining Armor looked slightly concerned at Thunder Clops suddenly panicked face. "Yes" gulped Thunder Clop, though it was not very reassuring. 

"Very good!" said Shining Armor enthusiastically, "Princess Luna will be delighted to meet you." 

"Princes Luna?" Questioned Thunder Clop.

"Oh yes," Replied Shining Armor matter-of-fackly "You see.... you are a dark grey pony, and though ponies with any colored coat can serve with the royal guard, we try to keep a certain..... theme. The darker ponies are assigned to princess Luna and the lighter to princess Celestia. The guards technically do watch over the royal family as a whole, but we tend to divide the guards this way to keep a certain aesthetic." 

"I see..." said Thunder Clop, he had noticed before that the guardponies where all white, but paid no attention to that when he applied. He supposed it made some sense but still.... keeping the guards divided didn't seem quite right to him.

"Here we are," said Shining Armor when they reached the foot of the Princesses tower. "Princess Luna should just be waking up and starting her day, er, night. Follow me and we'll wait in her receiving room." Thunder Clop followed Shining Armor up the tower to the princess's room. Princess Luna's tower was decorated much differently than the rest of the palace. Dark purple drapes hung over the windows and carpeting on the floor was a deep blue. The paintings and art on the wall reflected a more somber mood, not depressing just... relaxed. One painting in particular caught Thunder Clops eye, it was of a mare and her filly, sound asleep on a bench on a porch while gentle moon light lit the land. Thunder clop also noticed that there were far less guards in princess Luna's tower than in the rest of the palace, which also disturbed him slightly.

Shining Armor and Thunder Clop entered the princess's receiving room and patiently waited while the sun set behind the mountains out side. It was obvious that the princess was all ready awake. She could be heard speaking with her hand maidens on the other side of the door, and she had been alerted that there were visitors when they entered her room. They did not have to wait long for princess Luna. When she entered they both stood and bowed. 

"May I introduce Lieutenant Thunder Clop, Your Majesty" Said Shining Armor and motioning Thunder Clop to step forward. 

"We are pleased to make you acquaintance." Said Luna, using the royal Canterlot voice, though softly. Thunder Clop hesitated slightly 

"The pleasure is all mine, my lady." He said bowing so low that he stumbled slightly. oh no! What have I done! I've all ready made a fool of my self in front of the Princess but Luna only giggled slightly. 

"We forgive thee for thy misstep, we know our presence can be... intimidating." Said Luna and then she looked slightly down cast. 

"My apologize my lady," Said Thunder Clop, "It's just... I have never met a Princess before..."

"That is quite all right, we are sure that you will soon become quite accustomed to our presence. Now you must be tired, we shall allow you a few moments of sleep, so that you may be adjusted to our schedule" She then turned to Shining Armor. "And please have the armorer present the Lieutenant with the proper uniform."

"Yes my lady." Said Shining Armor as he bowed once more and showed Thunder Clop out. Now I've done it, thought Thunder Clop the princess must surly think I am a simpleton now. The journey back to the guards quarters was nearly silent. Only a few servants were about tiding up this, straitening that and doing other minor chores before bed. When Thunder Clop reached his room his roommate was all ready asleep. Thunder clop waited for the armorer to arrive with his new uniform before he crawled into his bed for a few hours sleep.